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bookcasey's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don’t usually go for thrillers, and I read this in one sitting. There’s plenty of darkness and tension, but it’s delightfully twisted.
For reference, I’d say it reads like Evelyn Hugo meets Mexican Gothic (but cis/het/white). Try this book if you liked Stone Cold Fox.
For reference, I’d say it reads like Evelyn Hugo meets Mexican Gothic (but cis/het/white). Try this book if you liked Stone Cold Fox.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Self harm, Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Sexual content
rosemaryrr's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Suicide
noladawnreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
LOVED this book. Like, obsessed. Ruby McTavish, etc is my new favorite character. I loved the use of epistolary pieces and because I read this immersively I really got the gist of her gumption.
I was dumbfounded st the end. I usually have some idea of what is going to happen but I never expected this one.
The audiobook, with a full cast, was perfection. Fabulous narration and characterization.
This was my first Rachel Hawkins book but you can be sure it won’t be my last.
Thanks to SMP and Macmillan Audio for my copies. These thoughts are my own.
I was dumbfounded st the end. I usually have some idea of what is going to happen but I never expected this one.
The audiobook, with a full cast, was perfection. Fabulous narration and characterization.
This was my first Rachel Hawkins book but you can be sure it won’t be my last.
Thanks to SMP and Macmillan Audio for my copies. These thoughts are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Classism and Kidnapping
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
jasminegalsreadinglog's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a story of riches and family legacies. It's also a story of a convoluted family whose matriarch was notorious since she was three years old. She is dead, but she leaves behind secrets and answers as well in the form of letters. Who is she writing to, and is everyone as innocent as they seem to be?
This book is told in three voices. Camden's, Jules, and Ruby's in the form of letters. I loved Ruby's story told in the form of letters. Ruby is an intriguing, interesting, and very morally gray character. The story is interesting and gripping. However, the transitioning of the characters in almost every other chapter made reading a little difficult for me. Also, the other gripe I have is that I wanted to know more about the side plotlines that the author introduced once Camden is in Ashby House. The ending does, in some ways, make up for these.
Thank you St.Martin's Press, for this book.
This book is told in three voices. Camden's, Jules, and Ruby's in the form of letters. I loved Ruby's story told in the form of letters. Ruby is an intriguing, interesting, and very morally gray character. The story is interesting and gripping. However, the transitioning of the characters in almost every other chapter made reading a little difficult for me. Also, the other gripe I have is that I wanted to know more about the side plotlines that the author introduced once Camden is in Ashby House. The ending does, in some ways, make up for these.
Thank you St.Martin's Press, for this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Addiction, Abandonment, Violence, Alcohol, Suicide, Murder, Mental illness, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Out tomorrow (1/9) - thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Ruby McTavish is a local legend in her North Carolina hometown…both for her fortune and her tendency to marry men who die mysteriously. When Ruby dies, her adopted son is her only heir—but he wants nothing to do with her house or fortune until family events force him back to a place filled with secrets.
I absolutely LOVED this one, which is absolutely my favorite Rachel Hawkins. Imagine if you were reading Evelyn Hugo but no one was quite sure whether she’d murdered her husbands and you’ve got something a lot like this book, which I found captivating and super fun. It’s definitely heavy on moral greyness and “women’s wrongs,” which I personally love, and the ending made me gasp more than once.
This is more mystery/suspense than “thriller” in my opinion, so know going in that it’s a bit of a slow burn as things unfold…but I was genuinely hooked from the beginning, and I highly recommend this one!
CW: Death/murder; domestic abuse/physical abuse; kidnapping/missing child; mentions of suicide
Rating: 5/5 stars
Ruby McTavish is a local legend in her North Carolina hometown…both for her fortune and her tendency to marry men who die mysteriously. When Ruby dies, her adopted son is her only heir—but he wants nothing to do with her house or fortune until family events force him back to a place filled with secrets.
I absolutely LOVED this one, which is absolutely my favorite Rachel Hawkins. Imagine if you were reading Evelyn Hugo but no one was quite sure whether she’d murdered her husbands and you’ve got something a lot like this book, which I found captivating and super fun. It’s definitely heavy on moral greyness and “women’s wrongs,” which I personally love, and the ending made me gasp more than once.
This is more mystery/suspense than “thriller” in my opinion, so know going in that it’s a bit of a slow burn as things unfold…but I was genuinely hooked from the beginning, and I highly recommend this one!
CW: Death/murder; domestic abuse/physical abuse; kidnapping/missing child; mentions of suicide
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
hanlov's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.25 stars! I’ve enjoyed Rachel Hawkins’s other books and this one was no different! The Heiress centers on Ruby McTavish, a famously kidnapped and returned child, now the richest woman in North Carolina with four deceased husbands, and what ensues after her passing. We get the story through Camden, Ruby’s adopted son and heir to her fortune, and Jules, Camden’s wife, along with media clippings and letters. This was fast-paced, twisty, dark, and very enjoyable. The narrators are unreliable and while it lacks a bit of the shock factor, it really works in this book as the reader uncovers more about the past of this rich family. I was entertained and engaged the entire time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting an easy-to-read yet riveting family drama.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse and Kidnapping
morethanmylupus's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ooh this was a good thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat and I absolutely couldn't put it down. I loved that we got an insider perspective on the family from Cam, even though he's adopted and didn't have the happiest time growing up in that house, and an external perspective from Jules, who has married into the family and doesn't know them.
There were so many questions in the story. What really happened to Ruby as a baby - and did the right baby come home? Why did she adopt Cam? How did she die? And what happened to all of Ruby's husbands? What secrets is Jules keeping?
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
There were so many questions in the story. What really happened to Ruby as a baby - and did the right baby come home? Why did she adopt Cam? How did she die? And what happened to all of Ruby's husbands? What secrets is Jules keeping?
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Classism
knitterscasket's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ruby McTavish better known for her unfortunate kidnapping when she was a child… and the untimely deaths of her… four husbands; lived what some would say a hard life, aside from her family being the wealthiest one in North Carolina. Her son Cam and his wife Jules are led back to Ashby House after the Uncle’s Passing to settle some of the affairs. But as time passes more of Ruby’s and other’s secrets unfold. Secrets that even money can’t hide or heal.
This book was absolutely amazing. The character dynamics and plot twists are so woven together perfectly that it is impossible to put this book down! I didn’t know which characters to love, hate or trust. There were so many twists and secrets that every character seemed to have that it seemed impossible to guess them all. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Murder
hilaryreads89's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🪴 Family Estate, Family Drama, Family Secrets 🪴
Cam wanted to escape his lavish, southern estate wrapped in family drama and the secrets wrapped up in its walls. Following some family deaths (his uncle and his mother, Ruby), his wife, Jules, encourages his return to wrap up some loose ends. The twisty secrets that follow keep everyone on their toes.
❤️ The atmosphere of this story steals the show! I loved the descriptions of the Ashby House and the surrounding area.
❤️ The mysteries unfolding from Ruby's past and the characters' secrets in the present day created a multilayered story.
The twists were natural and progressed through the story. Some reveals were predictable as Hawkins left us just enough breadcrumbs to follow. Each twist was perfectly placed and her chapter endings kept me wanting to read late into the night.
📖 Compulsively readable. I could not put this story down. The short chapters and unique format kept me reading. Hawkins weaves in letters from Ruby, news stories, and chapters from both Cam's and Jules' points of view. These were well-balanced and easy to follow!
🪴 Readers who enjoy family drama, gothic stories, twisty thrillers, and maybe a little Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes will love this one! I have previously read The WIfe Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins and found that The Heiress was a more robust and enjoyable read for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this title prior to publication day in the form of an eARC, it was a joy to read and review!
Cam wanted to escape his lavish, southern estate wrapped in family drama and the secrets wrapped up in its walls. Following some family deaths (his uncle and his mother, Ruby), his wife, Jules, encourages his return to wrap up some loose ends. The twisty secrets that follow keep everyone on their toes.
❤️ The atmosphere of this story steals the show! I loved the descriptions of the Ashby House and the surrounding area.
❤️ The mysteries unfolding from Ruby's past and the characters' secrets in the present day created a multilayered story.
The twists were natural and progressed through the story. Some reveals were predictable as Hawkins left us just enough breadcrumbs to follow. Each twist was perfectly placed and her chapter endings kept me wanting to read late into the night.
📖 Compulsively readable. I could not put this story down. The short chapters and unique format kept me reading. Hawkins weaves in letters from Ruby, news stories, and chapters from both Cam's and Jules' points of view. These were well-balanced and easy to follow!
🪴 Readers who enjoy family drama, gothic stories, twisty thrillers, and maybe a little Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes will love this one! I have previously read The WIfe Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins and found that The Heiress was a more robust and enjoyable read for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this title prior to publication day in the form of an eARC, it was a joy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Domestic abuse